New Delhi – In a major step to help students feel safer and happier, the National Task Force (NTF) on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has launched new initiatives. Formed by the Supreme Court of India, this special team is asking students, parents, and teachers to share their views to help stop student suicides.

What is the National Task Force (NTF)?

The NTF is a high-level committee created to solve the growing problem of stress and suicide in schools and colleges. It is led by former judges and experts who want to understand why students are stressed and how the system can change to support them better.

How Can You Participate?

The NTF has launched a dedicated website where you can make your voice heard. They are conducting surveys to gather honest feedback from everyone involved in education.

• Who can participate?
  • Students: To share their daily challenges and pressures.
  • Parents: To talk about their worries for their children.
  • Teachers & Faculty: To suggest how classrooms can become more supportive.
  • Institutions: Colleges must submit data on what safety measures they already have.

Where to participate: You can fill out these surveys on the official portal: ntf.education.gov.in. Note: The deadline for these surveys has been extended to December 15, 2025, giving more people time to respond.

New Rules for Schools and Colleges

Apart from the surveys, the government is pushing for strict new rules in all educational institutions:

1. Mandatory Counselors: Every college or school with more than 100 students must appoint a trained counselor.
2. Wellness Teams: Schools must form “School Wellness Teams” to look out for students who might be feeling low or anxious.
3. UMMEED Guidelines: A new plan called UMMEED (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop) teaches staff how to spot warning signs of self-harm and help students immediately.
4. Zero Tolerance: Colleges must have strict rules against ragging and discrimination, which are major causes of stress.

Why This Matters

“We want to move from reacting to tragedies to preventing them,” said a spokesperson for the initiative. By collecting data directly from students, the Task Force aims to create a new set of laws that will force colleges to take mental health seriously, rather than just talking about it.

Helplines Are Available

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available right now. The government’s Tele-MANAS helpline is active. You can call 14416 anytime for free, confidential support.